HBA-MPM S.B. 491 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 491 By: Luna Public Education 5/12/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas law permits multi-year contracts between a school district and an attorney representing a school district. S.B. 491 provides that a legal service contract purporting to bind a school district for a fixed term may be voided by the district, except under certain conditions. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 44, Education Code, by adding Section 44.042, as follows: Sec. 44.042. CONTRACTS FOR LEGAL SERVICES. Provides that a contract for legal services that purports to bind a school district for a fixed term of more than one year may be voided by a school district. Makes this section inapplicable to a contract for the provision of legal services: _by a salaried district employee; _to collect delinquent property taxes for the district; _to represent the district on a contingent fee basis; or _to represent the district in specific litigation. SECTION 2. Makes this Act prospective with respect to legal services entered into by the board of trustees of a school district. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.